Website doesn't tell all about traffic camera

The Village of Lucas has prepared a summary of the first four weeks of the automated speed camera enforcement on their website. As I reviewed their results, they failed to print all statistical information to back their comments. As posted on their website, for the period of March 21 through April 17, 2013 (28 days), they have issued 283 citations, (212 being from a camera placed at Ohio 39).

I quote from their website, "With all of the publicity and social media attention the program has received, there were still 251 vehicles traveling on Main Street at a rate of speed in excess of 10 mph over the posted speed limit. With all of the statistical information given, you can see there is a significant speed problem in our community."

Significant meaning: "of a noticeably or measurably large amount."

According to the Ohio Department of Transportation 2011 "Annual Average Daily Traffic Report," in one day 3,850 vehicles travel on Ohio 39 East toward Lucas, 1,780 vehicles travel from the west end. That would be an average of 107,800 vehicles traveling from the east that may have passed through the camera in the 28 days the Village of Lucas has reported. Based upon my research, that's 0.19666 percent. That's not even one quarter of one percent of reported speeding. I hardly believe that constitutes a significant speed problem.

As I'm not a resident of the village, I am concerned about the increased traffic and safety on rural roads outside of the village because of drivers avoiding the cameras. I have been to a council meeting and heard the administration repeatedly saying that the cameras are for safety and not revenue, but statistically, you can make that determination on your own. After all, the mayor of Lucas said it is all about safety, not revenue, (with 11 driving violations of his own since 1990 according to Mansfield Municipal Court records), what do you really believe?

Rich Glasener

Lucas

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Website doesn't tell all about traffic camera

Believe it or not. The Village of Lucas has prepared a summary of the first four weeks of the automated speed camera enforcement on their website. As I reviewed their results, they failed to print